The activity compares four complete fictional records using always, never and sometimes. It checks the selected word and requested midposition separately, showing always checks for the main verb and is always ready for be. Readiness has its own record, so it is never inferred from label checks.
Show the five observations before the word bank
The observation window contains exactly sessions S1–S5. Yes means the stated action or condition occurred in that fictional session; No means it explicitly did not. Neither is a blank record.
| Record | S1 | S2 | S3 | S4 | S5 | Supplied count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Sam checks the label | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5 of 5 |
| B: Sam checks the label | No | No | No | No | No | 0 of 5 |
| C: Sam checks the label | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | 3 of 5 |
| D: Sam is ready | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 5 of 5 |
A, B and C are independent alternative model records, not three simultaneous reports of the same five sessions. Keep their IDs visible when changing cards. D separately supplies readiness; checking a label does not establish being ready.
Use the limited bank always, never and sometimes for this exercise. The key describes only the selected complete fictional record: all five, none of the five, or some of the five. Keep "In this five-session model" at the start of each completed sentence.
Keep a supported sentence bounded
| Card/key | Original completed sentence | Evidence used |
|---|---|---|
| A: always | In this five-session model, Sam always checks the label. | All five label checks are Yes |
| B: never | In this five-session model, Sam never checks the label. | All five label checks are No |
| C: sometimes | In this five-session model, Sam sometimes checks the label. | Three Yes and two No observations |
| D: always | In this five-session model, Sam is always ready. | Separate readiness record: five Yes |
Do not shorten A into a claim about what Sam always does outside the model. B does not establish that Sam has never checked a label in life. The records contain no evidence about sessions before or after this window.
For C, sometimes is the matching choice from this three-word bank. Ask the learner to explain the three Yes observations and two No observations. For a precise count, say "three of five sessions" instead of assigning a percentage threshold to the adverb.
Three divided by five is 60%, but usually is outside this exercise's word bank. Keep the arithmetic separate from the grammar choice.
Place the word relative to the supplied verb
British Council's grammar reference describes the usual position of these one-word frequency expressions before a main verb and after be. Apply that guidance to the supplied affirmative sentences: Sam always checks and Sam is always ready. British Council: How Often
For A–C, checks is already supplied. The requested midposition is between Sam and checks: Sam always checks, Sam never checks or Sam sometimes checks.
For D, the supplied verb is is. Put always after that verb: Sam is always ready. The word ready describes the separately supplied condition; it is not inferred from A's label-check record.
Keep both the subject and verb form fixed. Learners are not choosing check versus checks, is versus are, a tense or a negative auxiliary. Adding those questions would obscure whether the error concerns frequency meaning or placement.
A sentence such as Sometimes Sam checks the label can be acceptable in a suitable context. If it misses this card's requested midposition, feedback should name the placement task rather than declare every initial sometimes sentence ungrammatical.
Play the two-decision round
Choose record C, inspect its Yes/No sequence, and select Sometimes. Choose Before the main verb for the requested slot, then press Check sentence. The feedback reports whether the word and position match. When both do, it shows the completed sentence with the five-session limit. Changing a card clears both choices and any written reason.
For D, use Always after is. An always choice placed before the main verb may match A’s task but misses D’s requested form. A blank choice remains unanswered. Review explanations in the learner’s own words. The feedback checks the two choices, while the teacher reads the explanation. Reset restores A with blank responses. If you later use classroom observations, agree on the observation window and review the answer choices for those records.
Copy this prompt
Build a sentence game using four fictional five-session records. Place record buttons above the five Yes or No observations, their count and a sentence with a blank. Separate the word choice from the position choice so feedback can explain each decision.
A, B and C are alternative records for Sam checking a label. A has Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes. B has No, No, No, No, No. C has Yes, No, Yes, No, Yes. D concerns a different condition, Sam being ready, and has five Yes observations. Show each record's ID and condition. These are separate examples rather than simultaneous reports.
Use only always, never and sometimes as word buttons. The matching choices are A always, B never, C sometimes and D always. A through C use "In this five-session model, Sam ___ checks the label." D uses "In this five-session model, Sam is ___ ready." Provide two placement buttons: Before main verb and After be. The first matches A through C; the second matches D.
Check sentence reports the word match and requested-position match separately. Show the completed sentence only when both match. Explain a position mismatch as a mismatch with the requested midposition; do not declare all sentence-initial uses of sometimes incorrect. Include a text area for the learner's explanation, reviewed by the teacher.
Changing records clears choices, explanation and feedback. Response edits clear old feedback. Reset returns to A with blank answers. Return one self-contained HTML file with readable observations, clearly selected buttons and comfortable spacing on a phone.
Compare A with D
Complete A, then switch to D and choose always again. Ask a partner why checks follows the adverb while is comes before it. NOS can render the HTML records and sentence checks for this comparison. In the next round, have learners name the five-session window before explaining their word and position choices.